In one aspect, Bahaism can be divided into two periods of time: 1) when it was a cult and 2) when it became an organization. The Baha’ism organization is not basically an Iranian event; it is basically an American-Jewish one. As a matter of fact, it can be said that the Bahaism cult possessed an origin in Iraq and Iran. That is, during the Ottoman periods of time when this cult changes its structure into an organization, the Iranian didn’t have any role in creating it at all. The American-Jewish movements did it.
In 1892 A.D., Bahaullah the founder of Baha’ism dies. As long as its founder dies, it is a small cult which hasn’t been able to expand and progress it too much. There were several Baha’is among the Iranian Community in order to have more freedom of action with the accompaniment of the Soviet Union. They had gone to Eshgh Abad and had made the first Baha’i temple. It is destroyed after the periods of time of communist Revolution.
In 1893 A.D., congress is being held in America called the universal parliament of religions. Here is the turning point and the onset of Baha’ism for being an organization. In the universal parliament of religions, a universal policy making is going to be done concerning the creation of a unique universal religion for which the name of Baha’ism is being posed as a movement on which it is counted.
The word cult is to some extent based on the dialogue which has been created by the Baha’is movement itself; of course, with a bit critical view. That is Baha’ism itself has claimed for being a religion. It has introduced itself as a religion in order to be able to grow and recruit in various communities. A religion which has come after Islam. In fact, it has come to show the decline of Islam. When this cult is being criticized, they say it is usual for us to be criticized because each religion is basically being criticized by its previous one. Those who applied the word cult for it believed that it is not an original religion, but it is merely a cult. In fact, it is a deviant, forged theological movement. In Persian literature and language, the word cult is used when a branch is being created in a general theological movement and it is said a cult has been created.
We are not going to enter into the evolutionary process. There are some hypotheses. For instance, one hypothesis says it is a social event. Another one says it is a cult or even it is an organization or a political party. For example, the Excellency Ayatollah Broujerdi (P.H.) was the master of Imam Khomeini (P.H.). He posed the political party. The Excellency Imam Khomeini (P.H.) has posed this term, the political party. So, the hypothesis of political party is old.
On the other side; in Bahaism literature, the title of organization has been recognized formally; that is the Baha’i leaders themselves and the members of the universal house of justice and before them there were some people who used the term organization. In Baha’ism culture and education there is an important teaching which is called the administrative discipline and is one of the duties of the Baha’i member to learn it.
Since 1342 S.H. when the universal house justice is established, it can nearly be said that the administrative structure is changed which is of course not fundamental, but is dramatic. The turning point is 1313 S.H. So, they create the administrative discipline like all classic organizations. It can be said that they have gathered these Baha’is to cooperate with the organization to make other people disciplined for another organization to be formed.
The universal house of justice as the leadership council is substituted by a person This organization has formed branches in 170 countries which are called the national assemblies. This national assembly is in fact the central assembly. However, this organization which says I am a religious one is going to establish government as its important aim during its emergence. Of course, the main aim of parties in the countries is gaining power and government and asking for power share.
That is, Baha’ism has a universal view and is following gaining government. The following reasons prove this hypothesis:
- rising Babis against Qajar government and conflicting against the then government,
- The really serious presence in all pillars of power including cultural, economic, political and military ones of the second Pahlavi government in Iran.
So, Bahaism is a political party which shares some similarities with cults. According to organizational structure, it resembles a political party, but in theological domain it quite resembles to a religious cult whose main principles are not criticizing leaders and the cult.
Source:
– An interview with Dr. Ismaeeli, the master of university and researcher in the field of Bahaism.
– https://farsi.khamenei.ir/book-content?id=55170
